Taxi drivers block a road near Roissy outside Paris as they take part in a demonstration to protest against the growing number of minicabs or Voitures de Tourisme avec Chauffeurs (VTC). Photograph: Fred Dufour/AFP/Getty Images

An Italian taxi driver distributes leaflets reading "Don't take an illegal taxi, take a white regular taxi" during a protest against the growing number of minicabs and cars, known in Italy as Car rental with driver (NCC). Photograph: Andreas Solaro/AFP/Getty Images

Taxi drivers block a road near Roissy ouside Paris. Parisian commuters faced gridlock getting into the city after taxis slowed traffic on the major arteries into the city centre. Photograph: Fred Dufour/AFP/Getty Images